Chapter 765 - 365: Journey to the Secret Realm

City Lord Qi Tai and the tea house owner Li Ming, under the gaze of Venerable Austere that seemed as penetrating as a torch, appeared to be stripped of layers of disguise, their inner anxiety and unease flowing like an undercurrent, difficult to calm.

Venerable Austere shifted from his previous playful demeanor to an eagle-like sharpness in his eyes, as if he could see through the deepest secrets of a person’s heart.

Qi Tai and Li Ming’s eyes flickered, sometimes meeting, sometimes avoiding, as if engaging in a silent exchange, or seeking solace from each other to withstand the coming storm.

"The matter of the secret realm is no small matter, and we dare not conceal anything." Qi Tai’s voice, although attempting to remain steady, could not entirely hide the trembling within.

He knew deeply that every word was like walking on thin ice, one misstep and it would be an irreparable disaster.

He sneaked a glance at Li Ming, only to see the latter equally grave, lips tightly pressed, seemingly using all his strength to maintain that fragile calm.

Venerable Austere smiled faintly, but his tone carried a hint of chill: "Oh? Then, can the City Lord tell me, where is the entrance to the secret realm? And why do you dare sell only three cups of Snow Village Tea in the tea house?"

Qi Tai’s face suddenly turned pale, he stammered: "This... the entrance to the secret realm is extremely hidden, we discovered it purely by chance, as for why only three cups of tea... that’s because... because the quantity harvested each time is limited, it’s really impossible to supply more."

Seeing this, Li Ming quickly added: "Yes, Venerable, the yield of Snow Village Tea from the secret realm is small each time, usually only three cups, and the quality is extremely precious. The spiritual objects in that secret realm grow very slowly, and the harvesting is very difficult. Each time we send someone into the secret realm, it’s at great risk, being able to bring back this Snow Village Tea is fortunate enough. Moreover, the frequency of the secret realm opening is very low, it only appears at specific times."

Venerable Austere slightly raised an eyebrow, seemingly not fully satisfied with this explanation.

He gently tapped his fingers on the table, the crisp and rhythmic sound echoing through the silent teahouse, each tap seemingly striking at the hearts of the two, making their heartbeats involuntarily speed up with the rhythm, a tense and oppressive atmosphere pervading the air.

"Then, when is the next time the secret realm opens? How can you ensure entry?"

Qi Tai and Li Ming looked at each other, tension rising in their hearts. Li Ming gritted his teeth and said: "Venerable, the secret realm opens every three days, and the most recent opening was yesterday. We can take you there personally in two days, to witness the true appearance of the secret realm."

"Oh?" Venerable Austere’s gaze suddenly turned sharp, seemingly intrigued by this proposal, "Are you sure you can find the entrance in two days? Moreover, can you ensure my safe entry?"

Qi Tai and Li Ming nodded repeatedly, Qi Tai said: "Please rest assured, Venerable, we will do our utmost to ensure that you can enter the secret realm smoothly and witness the source of the Snow Village Tea."

Hearing this, Venerable Austere narrowed his eyes slightly, as if beams of light were flashing deep in his pupils, he was weighing, assessing, and also waiting. He knew that directly exposing the lie might bring momentary satisfaction, but doing so could only make the truth more elusive. Thus, he slowly nodded, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his lips, a smile that was both playful and warning:

"Very well, I will give you this opportunity. In two days, I hope to see the secret realm you mentioned. However, if I discover any falsehoods, you’ll bear the consequences."

These words, though light, were like a cold wind piercing to the bone, causing Qi Tai and Li Ming to shiver involuntarily, the slight hope in their hearts instantly replaced by cold reality.

As Venerable Austere turned and left, You Su followed closely behind, the two weaving through the hustle and bustle of the teahouse, like two serene streams untouched by the mundane world.

Returning to the guest room of the City Lord’s mansion, Venerable Austere gestured for You Su to sit down, his gaze containing both anticipation and a barely noticeable concern.

"Dabang, what do you think of today’s events?" he asked softly, his tone containing a sense of respect and trust.

You Su pondered for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, then slowly spoke, his voice steady and well-structured: "Firstly, there are many contradictions in the City Lord and the owner’s statements. They mentioned that the entrance to the secret realm is extremely hidden, yet they can take you there in two days, which is clearly illogical. Moreover, the pattern they mentioned of the secret realm opening also seems to lack sufficient basis; additionally, they described the danger of the secret realm as very severe, yet they are able to harvest Snow Village Tea from it, this contradiction is perplexing. If the secret realm is truly that treacherous, why do they not seek the help of stronger cultivators? Instead, they choose to venture alone, even hiding the existence of the secret realm."

Venerable Austere, after hearing this, showed a look of approval, nodding gently, a gleam of admiration in his eyes.

"Your analysis is spot on. I also noticed these contradictions, do you know why I chose not to expose their clumsy lies and poor acting on the spot?"

"Casting a long line to catch a big fish?" You Su responded tentatively.

"Precisely. I really want to see, what kind of confidence they have, to be willing to lie to someone from the Divine Mountain like myself, rather than admit their guilt. A mere City Lord of Shuocheng, with only a Lower Feather Transformation Realm cultivation, obviously wouldn’t dare to miss such a large sum of tax. Snow Village Tea is merely a foil, an opportunity to engage with those behind them." Venerable Austere explained in a leisurely manner.